Future fads: Jobs expected to last into the foreseeable future
In a world where everything is constantly changing and evolving, it is comforting to know that some things will remain the same. Death and taxes aren’t going anywhere, but that’s not the end of it. You will be delighted, and even perhaps relieved, to note that there are certain sectors of the economy which have shown good prospects and are expected to last long into the foreseeable future.
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- Healthcare
Advancements in technology have revolutionised the way the field of medicine is being practiced today. New forms of treatment are constantly being introduced, thus specialists in the relevant fields will continue to be in demand. You should consider working as a pharmacist, nurse, nutritionist, dentist or a medical researcher.
- Environmental science
The deterioration of Mother Earth over recent decades has been alarming, and this has raised concern amongst both the public as well as policymakers across the globe. Based on these trends, it looks like green technology is here to stay. Jobs that fall within this category will focus on the conservation of the environment and the use of natural resources in a more efficient manner. Be on the lookout for work as a waste management specialist, ecosystem conservation programme developer or a scientist/researcher for the field of renewable energy.
- Digital/Information technology
Communication plays an essential role in all relationships and business dealings. It is therefore no surprise then that there is a great need for all forms of digital tools. The field of information technology that can help fulfil this need. Ample job opportunities exist for positions like cyber security specialist, digital media designer, quality assurance supervisor, computer forensics analyst and cloud process engineer and many others.
- Engineering
In this fast paced society that we live in, time is everything and thus continuous invention as well as improvement of manmade tools and machines is vital to the economy. This is because it helps ensure better efficiency in business processes, and this will ultimately have a huge impact of productivity and profitability. Therefore, if you possess expertise in the field of engineering, employers may view you as a valuable asset to their organisation. Positions such as electronics engineer, artificial intelligence developer and robotics specialist are likely to increase in popularity in the days to come.
- Education
For every new generation that is born, there will be a need to educate them. Because of this, there will always be an avenue for jobs within the education sector. Besides educating the young ones, you could opt to train matured students on additional skills to enhance their existing careers. Job titles include professor, senior lecturer, teachers, school administrators and much more. If teaching does not suit your fancy, you can opt to take on roles such as admissions counsellor, foreign student advisor, student development worker or any of the many other positions that education institutions need.
- Banking
As long as money continues to be used around the world, there will always be a need for assistance on how to manage funds that are owned on both a personal as well as corporate level. Jobs in financial services will thus continue be in great demand, but you will need to adapt to the evolving trends of the market, even as it tends towards globalisation. Positions that are available include credit risk analyst, compliance manager, personal banker, loan underwriter, foreclosure specialist and many more.
- Law
Every civilised society will require a legal system to hold it in place. Although some part of the legal process will probably become more automated in the future, the persuasive nature of lawyers will still be necessary to obtain judicious verdicts from judges and juries. Certain branches of law may take greater prominence in the future, for instance, the widespread use of digital media may cause intellectual property law to grow in importance. Job titles include defense attorney, court reporter, attorney advisor, public defender and solicitor.
- Change management
In order to keep up with the ongoing revolution of the economy and global trends, business entities will need to continuously evolve and reinvent themselves. That is why those with expertise in change management will fare well in the future. Potential jobs in this field include openings in the role of change management consultant, change management analyst, change management coordinator and change manager.
- Food
The need for food will be a constant recurring theme for humankind, regardless of whatever else may take place in the distant future. After all, food is our means for survival. Job opportunities that are available for roles like organic food inspector, quality assurance supervisor and food controller will thus be viable options for consideration.
- Politics
Just as law is necessary for governance of a civilised society, politics plays an equally important part. There will always be a need for leaders on a national as well as international front, and so a career in politics will always be a possibility that is open for anyone who’s interested. Positions you may want to consider are senator, legislative correspondent, opposition researcher and political consultant.
Positive prospects for job seekers
If you happen to be job hunting at this time, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the prospects that await you.
The Malaysian National News Agency, BERNAMA, stated that the local labour market has stabilised with employment rates having increased by 1.3%, amounting to a total of 11.8 workers this year. This was based on the findings of the 2010/2011 Economic Report, which anticipates the creation of at least 152,800 new job opportunities, in line with the expected growth in the Malaysian labour force by a further 1.3%, which would sum up to 12.2 million workers.
According to a survey conducted within the Asia Pacific region during the third quarter of 2010, 54% of its Malaysian respondents held a positive outlook towards job opportunities within the nation. The Nielsen Global Consumer Confidence Survey that was conducted this year also supports this view. It was found in this survey that Malaysian consumers have harboured increasingly better expectations of employment within the country over time, with 63% having positive views in the second quarter of 2010 as compared to the 57% observed earlier in the first quarter of this year. In comparison to other Asia Pacific nations, Malaysia was named as the 7th most optimistic country in terms of optimism over job prospects.
As compared to the sentiments held by employers earlier this year, there is now a greater level of enthusiasm towards expanding businesses and increasing the intake of new hires. About 27% of employers who participated in this survey reported an intention to do so within the next 12 months.
Besides that, if you are an experienced worker, you can look forward to enjoying salary increments this year too. According to Melissa Norman, Kelly Services’ Managing Director, skilled workers possessing more than five years of experience may reasonably anticipate a 8-10% increase in their pay whereas non-skilled labour having two years experience and below can expect a 3-5% salary increase.
Furthermore, the process of searching for jobs has become much more convenient within the last decade or so. Job candidates are no longer confined to the traditional methods of applying for jobs via post, telephone inquiries or face-to-face meetings; they can now do so through the Internet as well. An increased presence of online job portals within the country has made it possible for job seekers to obtain up-to-date information on the latest job openings. In fact, most human resource professionals nowadays highly support the use of online recruitment methods as this helps them identify suitable candidates that may have previously been overlooked or unreachable. Social media such as LinkedIn or Facebook have also been utilised to a greater extent for this purpose, and these are resources you should take advantage of when looking for jobs.
Currently, even the government is paying a great deal of attention to the condition of the labour market. As part of its efforts to implement the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP) and to achieve national aspirations to become a high income nation, emphasis has been placed on three major areas: creating a more flexible labour market, improving the competency of the local workforce and having better retention rates for skilled labour. As a whole, the government’s aim is to attain a 33% rate of highly skilled labour by the year 2015, and intends to further increase this percentage to 50% by the year 2020. This truly signals a bright future for Malaysian workers across all industries.
Based on data collected in September 2010 by JobsMalaysia, an online job matching system administered by Malaysia’s Ministry of Human Resources, it was noted that Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Johor were the states which had the highest demand for both graduates as well as experienced workers. For graduates, job openings were most common in the sector of insurance or takaful (788), education (544) and manufacturing (360). Overall, the demand for labour was found to be greatest within the manufacturing (31,832), agriculture (18,406) and construction (7,979) industries.
Other areas within the economy which are ripe with opportunities include sectors such as information and communications technology (ICT), particularly in the area of networking, security and creative multimedia; sales and marketing; hospitality and tourism; media; finance; consulting; oil and gas; and telecommunications.
Some ongoing recruitment trends which you can expect to see more of in the near future would include outsourcing and flexible staffing arrangements (i.e. the employment of contract and temporary staff). These two factors would continue to be a preferred option for organisations as cost is a crucial factor for the survival of a business in today’s economy. Furthermore, firms will want to focus on their core competencies and cannot afford to lose too much time and money fussing over areas that they can easily seek outside expertise on.
In order to increase your chances of landing a good job, you will need to put in effort to ensure that your profile outshines that of the other candidates who are also vying for the same position as you are. You ought to work at developing yourself to become a well rounded personality who is able to multi-task as well as take on a variety of responsibilities. Good communication abilities as well as soft skills are important, and so is possessing interpersonal skills and an overall positive attitude towards work. Leadership capabilities are typically held in high esteem by employers. However, you should also portray yourself as being able to work well in a team setting. Additional capabilities such as computer literacy and multiple language competencies would give you that extra competitive edge.
On the whole, your aim should be to achieve lifetime employability. You should always put your best foot forward by highlighting your personal talents and accomplishments in a manner that appeals most to potential employers.
In conclusion, seeking employment in Malaysia presently should be a smooth sailing process as long as you are aware of the current needs in the market and have done your bit to ensure you are well suited to meet such demands within the industry of your choice.
6 signs that indicate you should be looking for a new job
Change is scary but sometimes necessary especially when it comes to your job.
If you spot the following signs in your current job, it may be right time to consider a new position elsewhere.
If you spot the following signs in your current job, it may be right time to consider a new position elsewhere.
- Unkept promises. Perhaps your boss had promised you certain things during an earlier season of your career such as a salary increment, a change in your role or insurance coverage. However, after some time, you begin to realise that none of these promises had ever materialised. Despite having highlighting this fact to your boss, nothing has changed and your patience has reached its limit.
- Ethical issues. For one reason or another, you and the company may be on opposite sides when it comes to issues of ethics or corporate philosophy. Perhaps you don’t agree with certain practices such as bribery.
- Health hazards. If your company deals in hazardous or flammable materials, adequate safety measures and procedures have to be followed. If your company fails to adhere strictly to these procedures and you feel that your life is at risk from exposure or leaks, then you need to consider finding a new job or company.
- An abusive environment. Abuse could be physical, sexual, emotional or even verbal, and can come from a fellow co-worker or even from your boss. Be aware of your rights as an employee and if ever anyone does something to you which clearly crosses typical work boundaries, you should report it immediately and if necessary, leave the job promptly.
- Changes in personal circumstances. Some aspects of your personal life have changed lately, and this has a direct impact on your ability to continue working at your current job. Examples include marriage, having children or sudden additional responsibilities like caring for a gravely ill family member. You may have contemplated giving up your career completely in such cases, but before you decide to do so, you should speak to your boss about part time or casual work. It is less taxing than a full load, and will allow you to continue to earn income whilst giving you more flexibility so you can tend to the new responsibilities in your life. If your current company is unable to support your need for more personal time, then you should consider looking elsewhere.
- Dead ends. Although you enjoy what you do at work, there is little opportunity for you to advance your career. You are not able to diversify your role or change your routine, and it is not likely that you will be considered for promotion. This could be due to a lack of vision within the organisation or an unwillingness to explore diversification, although this is clearly needed for long term survival. The industry you work in could also be suffering presently, with many of your contemporaries from other firms getting laid off from work or facing severe pay cuts.
What reasons have caused you to leave your job previously? Do you identify with any of the factors that were highlighted above? Feel free to share with us, we’d love to hear your story. For more stories on careers and personal development, go to http://jobscentral.com.my/resources/index.
Getting IT right
The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector has been regarded as an important sector in the Malaysian economy over the last few decades. In fact, it has been listed as one of the 12 National Key Economic Areas (NKEAs) that was mentioned in the Tenth Malaysia Plan (10MP). In 2009, the ICT sector contributed to 9.8% of Malaysia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and this figure is expected to increase to become 10.2% by the year 2015. For this year alone, it is predicted that the industry will experience a growth rate of 15% due to an improved economic climate. These are all clear indications that ICT development remains as one of the main priorities for the nation in the year 2010.
The prospects for the ICT sector in Malaysia are good, and C.J. Ang, the President of the Association of the Computer and Multimedia Industry (PIKOM) expressed that there is a positive outlook for this industry for this year. Muhammad Imran Kunalan Abdullah, General Manager of K-Workers Development at the Multimedia Development Corp (MDeC), states there are presently many ICT job opportunities available and the demand for labour with relevant technical skills and experience has been growing steadily.
However, the ICT sector still lacks sufficient human resources in most areas of specialisation. According to Andrew Milroy, ICT director at Frost & Sullivan, this is due to society’s general perception about ICT careers. Many do not regard such jobs as being interesting and consequently, job seekers may opt to do something that perhaps does not pay as well, but is seen as more fun. Further accentuating the severity of this problem is the fact that ICT related courses are not a popular choice amongst students at a tertiary level, thus widening the gap in ICT talent even further. In order to address this acute need for ICT professionals within Malaysia, the nation’s Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, says the government has decided to approve as many as 1,000 work permits annually to allow qualified foreign ICT graduates from local universities to work in the country.
Therefore, for anyone who desires to work in Malaysia and possesses ICT skills and/or relevant working experience, this is good news indeed. In particular, if you are well versed in Web technologies, mobile content development or Internet related services, the future is certainly a bright one for you. For those who are competent in programming languages such as C, C++, Java, PHP or other similar technologies, you can expect to see a 3% increase in the minimum as well as maximum salary figures that you could possibly earn from your work.
According to the Malaysian Employment Outlook and Salary Guide 2009/2010 by Kelly Services, currently popular ICT jobs include positions such as Help Desk Analyst, Software Engineer, Channel Sales Specialist and Unix Specialist. The expected salary range for such professions typically lies between RM2500 and 4500.
As ICT usage is increasing in all industries and businesses across the nation, there are numerous possibilities for where job opportunities can be found. Although the typical option of working in software houses or other types of companies which focus solely on ICT still exists, the reality is that there are no limits today on which industry ICT workers can choose to delve into.
Some common areas where ICT labour is often needed is found in the aviation, travel and financial sector. This is because of the increase of online applications in such businesses over recent years. In fact, e-commerce business models have become more and more popular in this time and age, and any enterprise that adopts such a model would surely have need for ICT professionals, regardless of which sector the firm operates in. In fact, e-commerce is projected to contribute a hefty RM92.7 billion to the nation’s income this year, a 32% increase as compared to the previous year.
Software development isn’t the only area with great career potential; for those who are well versed with the hardware side of things, there are plenty of openings available for you to explore also. In line with the growing trend towards using online and mobile devices both on a personal as well as corporate level, the demand for expertise in broadband and high speed broadband (HSBB) infrastructure and networking will be greater than ever before. In correspondence to these technological advances, issues of information security in both a physical as well as virtual sense would arise, thus career prospects are excellent for experts in this field. As stated by Maggie Tan, Associate Research Director at IDC Malaysia, “information is the most precious thing” to a business and organisations would be keen to do all in their power to safeguard this invaluable asset of theirs.
Other areas of interest for those in the ICT sector would be the potential of cloud computing applications within the Malaysian market. Although the brunt of the previous economic slowdown is slowly wearing off, most companies are still cautious about their budgets and spending, especially when it comes to technology related costs. Therefore, the option of online software which is readily available at a substantially lower cost than those which are purchased or developed in-house is very appealing. Microsoft supports this view as well, and has in fact regarded this area of ICT as one of utmost importance for the Malaysian market in 2010. Hence, opting to take up ICT jobs which support such technology would be highly recommended.
Creative multimedia is another branch of ICT that has currently gotten the attention of the Malaysian government. Datuk Badlisham Ghazali, the Chief Executive Officer of Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC), says that there have been plans to groom Malaysia to become a hub for animation, filmmaking and games within the region. Hence, skills in digital animation, video editing and electronic entertainment would be highly valued in the nation at this time.
On the whole, it can be said that the outlook for the ICT sector in Malaysia is encouraging, and job seekers can look forward to good career prospects within the industry.
The prospects for the ICT sector in Malaysia are good, and C.J. Ang, the President of the Association of the Computer and Multimedia Industry (PIKOM) expressed that there is a positive outlook for this industry for this year. Muhammad Imran Kunalan Abdullah, General Manager of K-Workers Development at the Multimedia Development Corp (MDeC), states there are presently many ICT job opportunities available and the demand for labour with relevant technical skills and experience has been growing steadily.
However, the ICT sector still lacks sufficient human resources in most areas of specialisation. According to Andrew Milroy, ICT director at Frost & Sullivan, this is due to society’s general perception about ICT careers. Many do not regard such jobs as being interesting and consequently, job seekers may opt to do something that perhaps does not pay as well, but is seen as more fun. Further accentuating the severity of this problem is the fact that ICT related courses are not a popular choice amongst students at a tertiary level, thus widening the gap in ICT talent even further. In order to address this acute need for ICT professionals within Malaysia, the nation’s Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, says the government has decided to approve as many as 1,000 work permits annually to allow qualified foreign ICT graduates from local universities to work in the country.
Therefore, for anyone who desires to work in Malaysia and possesses ICT skills and/or relevant working experience, this is good news indeed. In particular, if you are well versed in Web technologies, mobile content development or Internet related services, the future is certainly a bright one for you. For those who are competent in programming languages such as C, C++, Java, PHP or other similar technologies, you can expect to see a 3% increase in the minimum as well as maximum salary figures that you could possibly earn from your work.
According to the Malaysian Employment Outlook and Salary Guide 2009/2010 by Kelly Services, currently popular ICT jobs include positions such as Help Desk Analyst, Software Engineer, Channel Sales Specialist and Unix Specialist. The expected salary range for such professions typically lies between RM2500 and 4500.
As ICT usage is increasing in all industries and businesses across the nation, there are numerous possibilities for where job opportunities can be found. Although the typical option of working in software houses or other types of companies which focus solely on ICT still exists, the reality is that there are no limits today on which industry ICT workers can choose to delve into.
Some common areas where ICT labour is often needed is found in the aviation, travel and financial sector. This is because of the increase of online applications in such businesses over recent years. In fact, e-commerce business models have become more and more popular in this time and age, and any enterprise that adopts such a model would surely have need for ICT professionals, regardless of which sector the firm operates in. In fact, e-commerce is projected to contribute a hefty RM92.7 billion to the nation’s income this year, a 32% increase as compared to the previous year.
Software development isn’t the only area with great career potential; for those who are well versed with the hardware side of things, there are plenty of openings available for you to explore also. In line with the growing trend towards using online and mobile devices both on a personal as well as corporate level, the demand for expertise in broadband and high speed broadband (HSBB) infrastructure and networking will be greater than ever before. In correspondence to these technological advances, issues of information security in both a physical as well as virtual sense would arise, thus career prospects are excellent for experts in this field. As stated by Maggie Tan, Associate Research Director at IDC Malaysia, “information is the most precious thing” to a business and organisations would be keen to do all in their power to safeguard this invaluable asset of theirs.
Other areas of interest for those in the ICT sector would be the potential of cloud computing applications within the Malaysian market. Although the brunt of the previous economic slowdown is slowly wearing off, most companies are still cautious about their budgets and spending, especially when it comes to technology related costs. Therefore, the option of online software which is readily available at a substantially lower cost than those which are purchased or developed in-house is very appealing. Microsoft supports this view as well, and has in fact regarded this area of ICT as one of utmost importance for the Malaysian market in 2010. Hence, opting to take up ICT jobs which support such technology would be highly recommended.
Creative multimedia is another branch of ICT that has currently gotten the attention of the Malaysian government. Datuk Badlisham Ghazali, the Chief Executive Officer of Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC), says that there have been plans to groom Malaysia to become a hub for animation, filmmaking and games within the region. Hence, skills in digital animation, video editing and electronic entertainment would be highly valued in the nation at this time.
On the whole, it can be said that the outlook for the ICT sector in Malaysia is encouraging, and job seekers can look forward to good career prospects within the industry.
Surviving and thriving amidst office politics
Going to work each day can become a terrible dread whenever office politics comes to a head. However, most of the time, such predicaments are well beyond our control as individuals. Nevertheless, each and every person within an organisation has a part to play in minimising the occurrences of negative experiences and attitudes at work.
It is possible to survive and even potentially thrive in the midst of harrowing circumstances that take at work.
In terms of surviving office politics, here are some practical steps that you can take to make your experience at the office a more peaceful and enjoyable one:
Be respectful and diplomatic. Whatever the problem may be, practising an attitude of respect for whenever you deal with others, regardless of who they are or what position they hold in the organisation. Give people a sense of dignity through the way you relate to them. People who feel respected would more likely give you a similar treatment. It also makes a huge difference if you handle a conflict carefully and with a sense of tactfulness.
Form strategic alliances. By this I do not mean you should try to get as many people as possible to be on your side whenever there’s a conflict. Rather, your aim should be to be friendly to all and to build good relationships with whoever you’re working with. It is important to find ways to get along even with those whom you dislike or those whom you have trouble getting along with.
Think before you act or speak. As simple as this may seem, it can really make a big difference and save you tons of unnecessary hassle down the road. Despite how you may feel about a certain issue or person, take time to think through your actions or words before doing or saying something.
Understand your office culture. Every workplace has an unwritten code of conduct, and it would benefit you greatly if you are able to detect this and to find ways to use this to your advantage. The point here is not to plot and scheme for your own personal gain, but instead observe how others act around you and adjusting your behaviour to suit the prevailing preferences .
Learn from others. Identify individuals in your company who are performing well and analyse why this is so. Perhaps you could emulate certain things from them regarding how to excel in the place where you work. If he or she is an approachable person, you might like to consider asking them if they would like to be your mentor as well. That way, you can go to him or her directly to seek advice on matters pertaining to the office whenever the need arises..
Go straight to the source. It is common for rumours and all sorts of gossip to spread within a company, but you can play your part in helping to curb it. While it may not possible to stop others from talking, you can do your bit by resolving not to pass on any information that would be detrimental to anyone in the office.
All in all, dealing with office politics is something that can only be learnt through trial and error. Whilst there may not always be a direct solution, it helps if you keep an open mind and maintain a positive attitude coupled by a good sense of humour.
I’m sure every one of you readers out there has had some real life experiences with regards to office politics. Are you the type who would actively participate in it or are you the silent observer? Do you agree with the principles I highlighted just now? Or perhaps you have another method of handling things? Feel free to share your opinions on this topic by dropping a comment.
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It is possible to survive and even potentially thrive in the midst of harrowing circumstances that take at work.
In terms of surviving office politics, here are some practical steps that you can take to make your experience at the office a more peaceful and enjoyable one:
Be respectful and diplomatic. Whatever the problem may be, practising an attitude of respect for whenever you deal with others, regardless of who they are or what position they hold in the organisation. Give people a sense of dignity through the way you relate to them. People who feel respected would more likely give you a similar treatment. It also makes a huge difference if you handle a conflict carefully and with a sense of tactfulness.
Form strategic alliances. By this I do not mean you should try to get as many people as possible to be on your side whenever there’s a conflict. Rather, your aim should be to be friendly to all and to build good relationships with whoever you’re working with. It is important to find ways to get along even with those whom you dislike or those whom you have trouble getting along with.
Think before you act or speak. As simple as this may seem, it can really make a big difference and save you tons of unnecessary hassle down the road. Despite how you may feel about a certain issue or person, take time to think through your actions or words before doing or saying something.
Understand your office culture. Every workplace has an unwritten code of conduct, and it would benefit you greatly if you are able to detect this and to find ways to use this to your advantage. The point here is not to plot and scheme for your own personal gain, but instead observe how others act around you and adjusting your behaviour to suit the prevailing preferences .
Learn from others. Identify individuals in your company who are performing well and analyse why this is so. Perhaps you could emulate certain things from them regarding how to excel in the place where you work. If he or she is an approachable person, you might like to consider asking them if they would like to be your mentor as well. That way, you can go to him or her directly to seek advice on matters pertaining to the office whenever the need arises..
Go straight to the source. It is common for rumours and all sorts of gossip to spread within a company, but you can play your part in helping to curb it. While it may not possible to stop others from talking, you can do your bit by resolving not to pass on any information that would be detrimental to anyone in the office.
All in all, dealing with office politics is something that can only be learnt through trial and error. Whilst there may not always be a direct solution, it helps if you keep an open mind and maintain a positive attitude coupled by a good sense of humour.
I’m sure every one of you readers out there has had some real life experiences with regards to office politics. Are you the type who would actively participate in it or are you the silent observer? Do you agree with the principles I highlighted just now? Or perhaps you have another method of handling things? Feel free to share your opinions on this topic by dropping a comment.
An emphasis on team spirit
When it comes to work, it may seem that going solo for a work assignment is the fastest and most trouble-free route to take. What’s more, if you accomplish something outstanding all by yourself, you will get full recognition and would not need to share the limelight with someone else. However, being independent isn’t always the best way to get things done.
In fact, nowadays more and more companies have come to realise the importance of teamwork in a corporate setting. Each individual employee typically has certain strengths which are unique to him/her, and if his/her expertise is carefully combined with the skills possessed by other equally talented individuals, greater productivity levels and higher quality in work can be achieved than if these employees were to merely work in isolation from one another. In the wise words of Ken Blanchard, “None of us is as smart as all of us”. Furthermore, there is a certain kind of energy and motivation that can only be experienced through team dynamics.
Hence, as an employee who seeks to bring out the best in your organisation, being a team player should become a main priority in your daily work.
Here are some ways in which you can actively contribute towards creating a good team spirit amongst your colleagues:
Lead by example. You don’t have to be a manager to be a leader – sometimes the best of leaders are those without a title. You can encourage working as a team in the office by including other co-workers in relevant tasks or projects that you do. Sometimes this may simply be a case of seeking out their opinion or feedback on a particular matter. At other times, it could be suggesting that their presence is crucial for a particular planning or decision making meeting that you are also attending. Whatever the case may be, aim to make it clear by your actions that you place a high value on working together as a team.
Acknowledge others. Whenever something significant is achieved at work and you accomplished it through the help of others, remember to openly acknowledge them for their effort. This shows that you value their contributions, and also further promotes a greater sense of team spirit amongst you and your fellow co-workers.
Close communication gaps. As long as there are two or more people interacting in some form or another, there is always a possibility of conflict arising. Nevertheless, even conflict can be used to bring out the best in a team. Play your part by actively seeking to communicate with others and make sure that everyone is of the same mind. Besides that, you should speak up or take necessary action whenever you are in a position to help resolve disputes or misunderstandings between your colleagues. You should also develop good listening skills and encourage others to do the same, especially during meeting times where someone else is trying to voice their opinion.
Encourage participation. Not everyone is used to being proactive or expressing their views in a team setting. In order to create a better team spirit, you should do whatever you can to encourage every team member to participate actively in the discussion or decision being made. Each and every team member should be made to realise that they have a valuable contribution to offer the team. Regardless of whether you are the team leader or not, you should take on the responsibility of ensuring that everybody is doing their bit for the team.
Be friendly. Cultivate a genuine interest in the people who are in your team. This means going beyond merely asking for favours or chasing down end results or deadlines from your fellow co-workers. Wherever possible, you should aim to get to know your colleagues on a more personal level; perhaps by having a drink or a meal together after work, or just taking time to occasionally make small talk. By building rapport with your team mates, it will be much easier to collaborate and get things done at work in the long run.
All of us have worked in teams at some point or another. What experiences have you had whilst working in a team? Feel free to drop a comment and share with us.
In fact, nowadays more and more companies have come to realise the importance of teamwork in a corporate setting. Each individual employee typically has certain strengths which are unique to him/her, and if his/her expertise is carefully combined with the skills possessed by other equally talented individuals, greater productivity levels and higher quality in work can be achieved than if these employees were to merely work in isolation from one another. In the wise words of Ken Blanchard, “None of us is as smart as all of us”. Furthermore, there is a certain kind of energy and motivation that can only be experienced through team dynamics.
Hence, as an employee who seeks to bring out the best in your organisation, being a team player should become a main priority in your daily work.
Here are some ways in which you can actively contribute towards creating a good team spirit amongst your colleagues:
Lead by example. You don’t have to be a manager to be a leader – sometimes the best of leaders are those without a title. You can encourage working as a team in the office by including other co-workers in relevant tasks or projects that you do. Sometimes this may simply be a case of seeking out their opinion or feedback on a particular matter. At other times, it could be suggesting that their presence is crucial for a particular planning or decision making meeting that you are also attending. Whatever the case may be, aim to make it clear by your actions that you place a high value on working together as a team.
Acknowledge others. Whenever something significant is achieved at work and you accomplished it through the help of others, remember to openly acknowledge them for their effort. This shows that you value their contributions, and also further promotes a greater sense of team spirit amongst you and your fellow co-workers.
Close communication gaps. As long as there are two or more people interacting in some form or another, there is always a possibility of conflict arising. Nevertheless, even conflict can be used to bring out the best in a team. Play your part by actively seeking to communicate with others and make sure that everyone is of the same mind. Besides that, you should speak up or take necessary action whenever you are in a position to help resolve disputes or misunderstandings between your colleagues. You should also develop good listening skills and encourage others to do the same, especially during meeting times where someone else is trying to voice their opinion.
Encourage participation. Not everyone is used to being proactive or expressing their views in a team setting. In order to create a better team spirit, you should do whatever you can to encourage every team member to participate actively in the discussion or decision being made. Each and every team member should be made to realise that they have a valuable contribution to offer the team. Regardless of whether you are the team leader or not, you should take on the responsibility of ensuring that everybody is doing their bit for the team.
Be friendly. Cultivate a genuine interest in the people who are in your team. This means going beyond merely asking for favours or chasing down end results or deadlines from your fellow co-workers. Wherever possible, you should aim to get to know your colleagues on a more personal level; perhaps by having a drink or a meal together after work, or just taking time to occasionally make small talk. By building rapport with your team mates, it will be much easier to collaborate and get things done at work in the long run.
All of us have worked in teams at some point or another. What experiences have you had whilst working in a team? Feel free to drop a comment and share with us.
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Dressed to impress?
Your dress code speaks volumes about who you are and conveys an image of the organisation you represent. For this reason, it is essential that you pay close attention to what you wear to work.
Some companies go as far as to outline what is the permissible (as well as what isn’t acceptable) explicitly in the Code of Conduct that is handed down to each and every one of their employees. At the same time, there are other firms who do not even so much as mention if there is a standard dress code, and yet its employees know perfectly well what they can and should wear to work.
If the organization you work for happens to be like the former, then that makes it a whole lot easier for you to eliminate options of what to wear when combing through your wardrobe each morning for something to wear. But even in such circumstances, there are bound to be grey areas that may still puzzle you and leave you clueless.
Here are some general pointers to consider when planning suitable attire to wear to the office.
Understand your company’s corporate culture. If your employer tends to project the company as one that is prestigious and caters for an affluent clientele, it is likely that you will need to dress the part as well. This means you would need to wear formal attire such as a suit or coat, a necktie (if you’re a man) and even sport well polished shoes when dealing with clients. On the other hand, if the firm you work at highly esteems practicality and simplicity, there may be a chance that you are allowed to dress down a little more; perhaps even being able to wear jeans and t-shirts to the office. Consider what values and corporate image your organization wants to project, and make sure to reflect that in clothes you wear to work each day.
Observe what others wear. When in doubt, turn to other colleagues around you to get a better idea of what is best to wear to work. Although it’s not likely you can conform to wearing the same style of clothing as he or she does, at the very least you will have a rough guideline to work with. Look out especially for how your bosses dress to work. It may be that they would demand that your dress code be of a similar standard as theirs.
Be aware of industry practices. Certain careers require that a stricter dress code should be observed at the workplace. Examples of this can be seen in the legal and medical profession. It is important for you to find out whether the industry you work in has such expectations for your dressing. If it does, then you should adhere to it as much as you can, as it may have an impact on your future career advancement and would also help you blend in better with others within the same profession.
Respect the cultural and religious preferences of others. If your job requires you to interact with people outside of your office quarters, bear in mind the cultural and religious preferences of those you are meeting. The idea here is to avoid being offensive as much as possible. For instance, if you are a lady and you are aware that your client adopts a religion that promotes modest dressing, it would be advisable that you refrained from wearing anything that would draw unnecessary attention to your body such as short skirts or blouses with low necklines.
When in doubt, go for the more conservative option. It is typically better to be found overdressed rather than underdressed when it comes to a corporate setting. Appearing too casual might send across the wrong message that you are irreverent or unprofessional, and this would ultimately land you in trouble with your bosses or even clients. As the saying goes, better to be safe than sorry. Hence, you should go for the more conservative option whenever you find yourself faced with a certain degree of uncertainty as to what is appropriate for a particular occasion or location.
There really is no standard set of regulations when it comes to work dress code. However, in general, the idea is that you should be well groomed. Besides just focusing on the clothes you put on, remember to look into your overall appearance as well. This includes keeping your hair tidy, putting on appropriate footwear, using perfume or deodorant to keep unpleasant body odours at bay, and so much more. Ultimately, as fashion trends continue to change rapidly, you will need to continually adjust your dress code to suit the current vogue.
What’s your take on an appropriate dress style for work? Do you think smart casual is the way to go? Or do you prefer the classic formal wear? Is it better to be overdressed as opposed to underdressed? Go ahead and speak your mind – drop me a comment or two.
Some companies go as far as to outline what is the permissible (as well as what isn’t acceptable) explicitly in the Code of Conduct that is handed down to each and every one of their employees. At the same time, there are other firms who do not even so much as mention if there is a standard dress code, and yet its employees know perfectly well what they can and should wear to work.
If the organization you work for happens to be like the former, then that makes it a whole lot easier for you to eliminate options of what to wear when combing through your wardrobe each morning for something to wear. But even in such circumstances, there are bound to be grey areas that may still puzzle you and leave you clueless.
Here are some general pointers to consider when planning suitable attire to wear to the office.
Understand your company’s corporate culture. If your employer tends to project the company as one that is prestigious and caters for an affluent clientele, it is likely that you will need to dress the part as well. This means you would need to wear formal attire such as a suit or coat, a necktie (if you’re a man) and even sport well polished shoes when dealing with clients. On the other hand, if the firm you work at highly esteems practicality and simplicity, there may be a chance that you are allowed to dress down a little more; perhaps even being able to wear jeans and t-shirts to the office. Consider what values and corporate image your organization wants to project, and make sure to reflect that in clothes you wear to work each day.
Observe what others wear. When in doubt, turn to other colleagues around you to get a better idea of what is best to wear to work. Although it’s not likely you can conform to wearing the same style of clothing as he or she does, at the very least you will have a rough guideline to work with. Look out especially for how your bosses dress to work. It may be that they would demand that your dress code be of a similar standard as theirs.
Be aware of industry practices. Certain careers require that a stricter dress code should be observed at the workplace. Examples of this can be seen in the legal and medical profession. It is important for you to find out whether the industry you work in has such expectations for your dressing. If it does, then you should adhere to it as much as you can, as it may have an impact on your future career advancement and would also help you blend in better with others within the same profession.
Respect the cultural and religious preferences of others. If your job requires you to interact with people outside of your office quarters, bear in mind the cultural and religious preferences of those you are meeting. The idea here is to avoid being offensive as much as possible. For instance, if you are a lady and you are aware that your client adopts a religion that promotes modest dressing, it would be advisable that you refrained from wearing anything that would draw unnecessary attention to your body such as short skirts or blouses with low necklines.
When in doubt, go for the more conservative option. It is typically better to be found overdressed rather than underdressed when it comes to a corporate setting. Appearing too casual might send across the wrong message that you are irreverent or unprofessional, and this would ultimately land you in trouble with your bosses or even clients. As the saying goes, better to be safe than sorry. Hence, you should go for the more conservative option whenever you find yourself faced with a certain degree of uncertainty as to what is appropriate for a particular occasion or location.
There really is no standard set of regulations when it comes to work dress code. However, in general, the idea is that you should be well groomed. Besides just focusing on the clothes you put on, remember to look into your overall appearance as well. This includes keeping your hair tidy, putting on appropriate footwear, using perfume or deodorant to keep unpleasant body odours at bay, and so much more. Ultimately, as fashion trends continue to change rapidly, you will need to continually adjust your dress code to suit the current vogue.
What’s your take on an appropriate dress style for work? Do you think smart casual is the way to go? Or do you prefer the classic formal wear? Is it better to be overdressed as opposed to underdressed? Go ahead and speak your mind – drop me a comment or two.
